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- Nishio, Akiyosho, et al.
(author)
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Comparative studies of mitochondrial autoantibodies in sera and bile in primary biliary cirrhosis
- 1997
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In: Hepatology. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0270-9139 .- 1527-3350. ; 25:5, s. 1085-1089
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease characterized by destruction of intrahepatic bile ducts. Although the pathogenesis of this disease is still unknown, high titers of antimitochondrial autoantibodies (AMA) have long been recognized in patient sera. However, little is known about the presence of AMA in bile. In this study, we investigated bile and sera from patients with PBC and healthy controls for the presence of AMA and mitochondrial autoantigens. AMA were detected in the bile of 17 of 19 patients (89.4%) with PBC; they were specifically directed against the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC-E2) in 15 of 19 patients (78.9%), to the branched-chain 2-oxo-acid dehydrogenase complex E2 (BCOADC-E2) in 6 of 19 patients (31.6%), and to the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex E2 (OGDC-E2) in 1 of 19 patients (5.3%). In a comparative study of sera from the same patients, anti-PDC-E2 antibodies were found in 19 of 19 patients (100%), anti-BCOADC in 9 of 19 patients (47.3%), and anti-OGDC-E2 in 4 of 19 patients (21.1%) patients. AMA in bile were always found together with antibodies of corresponding specificities in the serum from the same patient. Immunoglobulin (Ig)A AMA were found in the bile of 9 of 19 patients (47.7%) with PBC; they were specifically directed against PDC-E2 in 8 of 19 patients (42.1%) and to BCOADC in 2 of 19 patients (10.5%). Epitope mapping of IgA anti-PDC-E2 antibodies indicated that, like serum autoantibodies, the immunodominant epitope is directed against the inner lipoyl domain of PDC-E2. The prevalence and antigen reactivity of IgA AMA in sera correlated completely with IgA AMA in bile. Autoantibodies against nuclear envelope pore proteins (gp210) were found in 1 of 8 (12.5%) sera of patients with PBC, but not in bile. Furthermore, and of particular interest, we detected the autoantigens, PDC-E2, OGDC-E2, and BCOADC-E2, in the bile of 12 of 19 patients (63.2%), 9 of 19 patients (47.4%), and 9 of 19 patients (47.4%), respectively; PDC-E2 was found in only 1 of 17 (5.9%) disease controls. Although the presence of AMA in bile may merely reflect the presence of these antibodies in sera, the simultaneous detection of mitochondrial autoantigens in bile suggests an increase of mitochondrial autoantigens at inflammatory sites. Such autoantigens, coupled with AMA, may augment the local immune response and disease progression.
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- Rosenquist, R, et al.
(author)
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Clonal evolution as judged by immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangements in relapsing precursor-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
- 1999
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In: European Journal of Haematology. - 0902-4441 .- 1600-0609. ; 63:3, s. 171-9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Oligoclonality and ongoing clonal evolution are common features in patients with precursor-B (pre-B) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), as judged by immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene rearrangement analysis. These features are considered to be results of secondary rearrangements after malignant transformation or emergence of new tumor clones. In the present study we analyzed the IgH gene rearrangement status in 18 cases with relapsing pre-B ALL using variable heavy chain (V(H)) gene family specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and single stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. Clonal IgH rearrangements were displayed in all leukemias but one, and altered rearrangement patterns occurred in five cases (29%), which were selected for detailed nucleotide sequence analysis. In one case, multiple subclones at diagnosis were suggested to be derived from a progenitor clone through joining of different V(H) germline gene segments to a pre-existing D-J(H) complex (V(H) to D-J(H) joining). Evidence for V(H) gene replacement with identical N-sequences at the V(H)-D junction and a common D-J(H) region was observed in one case. Diversification at the V(H)-D junction consisting of heterogeneous N-sequences were observed in one case. This molecular modification of the V(H)-D region could fit a hypothesized "open-and-shut" mechanism. Nevertheless, despite these ongoing events at least one IgH rearrangement remained unchanged throughout the disease in most patients, indicating that the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus can be a suitable marker for detection of minimal residual disease (MRD).
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- Ruijter, Emiel Th, et al.
(author)
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Rapid microwave-stimulated fixation of entire prostatectomy specimens
- 1997
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In: Journal of Pathology. - 0022-3417. ; 183:3, s. 369-375
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Conventional fixation of large solid surgical specimens is a slow process. Consequently, autolytic damage to tissues may occur if the fixative does not reach the central part of the specimen in time. However, as there is also a time relationship between formalin fixation and antigen masking, fixation for too long can also be detrimental. In seeking the optimum balance for fixation, microwave irradiation might be of assistance. This study set out to evaluate methods for fixing entire prostate glands within a brief period of time, using microwave-stimulated formalin fixation. The results show that entire prostates can be optimally fixed if formalin is present throughout the tissue as the temperature is increased by microwave irradiation. This is achieved by injecting the fixative into the prostate at multiple sites immediately following prostatectomy. The technique described ensures standardization of a critical step during tissue processing, leading to uniform microscopic results with both routine and immunohistochemical stains. It is a simple, rapid method, suitable for routine diagnostic use. Using this modified approach, DNA of much larger sizes can be extracted from paraffin-embedded material, which could expand the possibilities for molecular analysis.
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